Quote Originally Posted by caldvn
It's not an issue of class makeup or the "perfect group", as it was adapting to the fight. Some people multi-task better then others. This is bad comparison/argument.
Fair enough, but my comparison was that a prot pally and 4 elemental shaman CAN complete instances similar to what is expected of a "balanced" group, and I used a 5-boxer as a relatively even example. I apologize if personal experience doesn't live up to your scientific expectations on experimental data. Suvega raid leads BT/Hyjal, I don't think he has a problem understanding how to 5-box Ramparts nor how to multi-task. Besides, he had a tier 5 holy priest and a level 65 prot warrior tanking, while my characters were all level 61/62. So I think things were in his favor.

The fact that my run was much smoother is just icing on the cake that I get to rub in his face since he bet that I couldn't clear the instance alone at my level.

Anyway...

In some fights prot pallies shine and in some fights warriors shine. Of course that's the way things are. Druids tank other things better than prot pallies or prot warriors. There will always be tanks ideal and non-ideal for any given situation. That's life.

Personally, having used both a warrior and paladin for tanking with my 4 shaman at lvl40, the warrior took less damage and allowed for faster lightning bolt use (specced fury). However, you could use chain lightning every cooldown with the paladin, who took slightly more damage (specced prot). In this situation, a warrior would have been better. Was I unable to complete the instance with a paladin? No, I did just fine with both.



A warrior is better for classes with CC due to their single-target aggro abilities. They can function as tank or dps. They have buffs mostly for melee.

A paladin is better for classes with some form of aoe, and needs little CC. They can function as tank or healer. They have buffs for melee and casters.

A shaman (as the OP has rolled) has no CC. They can function as DPS or healer. They have buffs for melee and casters.

Now, one tank does better in specific situations, and another does better in other situations, but regardless, both can tank every instance in the game, including instances being run by a 5-boxer. Which puzzle pieces fit best together with the OP's 4 shaman?

(I'll give you a hint - they buff each other and they share CC-preferences)